Abstract: Novel chiral smectic ester compounds suitable for a display mode utilizing ferroelectric liquid crystals, and liquid crystal compositions containing the same are provided, which compounds are expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R* represents an optically active alkyl group of 4 to 18 carbon atoms; X represents either one of a single bond, --O-- ##STR2## A represents ##STR3## and m and n each is 1 or 2.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds having a higher clearing point and a superior stability are provided, which are trans-4-alkyloxymethyl-1-(4'-substituted biphenylyl-4)cyclohexanes expressed by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 8 cabon atoms and n represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: Chiral smectic compounds having a high response rate and being superior as a ferroelectric liquid crystalline material, and chiral smectic mixtures containing the same are provided, which compounds being expressed by the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents --CH.sub.2 --, --O-- or --CO--; n represents 0, 1 or 2; when X represents --CH.sub.2 --, Y represents R--, R--CO--, ROCO--, ##STR2## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and when X represents --O-- or --CO--, Y represents R; and * represents a symbol indicating an optically active carbon atom.

Abstract: A novel chiral liquid crystalline compound having an optically active group and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are provided, which compound is expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R is a linear chain or branched alkyl group of 1.about.18 C; l is 0 or 1; X is COO or --O-- in the case of l=0 and COO, --O-- or --CH.sub.2 -- in the case of l=1; and * represents optically active carbon, and which compound, when used as a display element, brings about a higher response velocity.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds having a higher clearing point and a superior stability are provided, which are trans-4-alkyloxymethyl-1-(4'-substituted biphenylyl-4)cyclohexanes expressed by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and n represents 0 or 1.

Abstract: Compounds useful as lower viscosity liquid-crystalline components of which liquid-crystalline compositions are partly composed are provided, which compounds areliquid-crystalline compounds expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, orliquid-crystalline compounds expressed by the general formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

Abstract: New liquid-crystalline compounds having a positive dielectric anisotropy, trans-4-alkyloxymethyl-1-(4'-cyanophenyl)cyclohexanes and trans-4-alkyloxymethyl-1-(4"-cyano-4'-biphenylyl)cyclohexanes expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 8 carbon atoms and n represents 1 or 2, are provided, which compounds are useful as a component constituting liquid-crystalline compositions having superior practical performances and being stable.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds which are useful as a component constituting liquid crystal compositions and particularly capable of broadening the liquid crystal temperature range of the compositions due to high clearing point of the compounds, and liquid crystal compositions comprising the same, are provided, which compounds are 4-(trans-4'-alkyloxymethylcyclohexyl)benzoic acid esters having the general formula ##STR1## wherein X represents ##STR2## each represent an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: New liquid crystal (l. c.) compounds having a positive dielectric anisotropy, 4"-(.beta.-alkyloxyethyl)-4-cyanobiphenyls and 4'-(.beta.-alkyloxyethyl)-4-cyanoterphenyls expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group of 1.about.9C and n is 2 or 3; a process for preparing the same; and l.c. compositions containing at least one of the same, are provided. When the compounds are added to a l.c. having a nearly zero or negative anisotropy, a l.c. composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy can be obtained. The compounds have a greater optical anisotropy and a superior compatibility with other l.c. compounds.

Abstract: Novel compounds, 4-(trans-4'-alkylcyclohexyl)benzoic acid 4"'-cyano-4"-biphenylyl esters expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and liquid crystal compositions comprising at least one of the esters are provided.Liquid crystal compositions containing the compounds have practical superior characteristic properties and also good stability.

Abstract: A novel 4'-(.beta.-alkyloxyethoxy)-4-cyanobiphenyl represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which is useful as one component of liquid crystal composition having positive dielectric anisotropy.

Abstract: Liquid crystal materials for liquid crystal display, having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and maintaining a liquid crystal state at a broad temperature range including room temperature are provided. These materials contain novel compounds expressed by the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X represents ##STR2## Y represents ##STR3## R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 each represent an alkyl group or an alkyloxy group of 1-10 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 each represent an alkyl group of 1-10 carbon atoms; butcompounds wherein ##STR4## are excluded.

Abstract: Novel compounds, 4-alkyl-cyclohexenes having at the 1-position thereof p-cyanophenyl group or 4'-cyano-4-biphenylyl group, expressed by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight alkyl group having 1.about.9 carbon atoms and n represents 1 or 2; methods for producing the same; and nematic liquid crystal (L.C.) compositions comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of said compounds, are provided.Said compounds having a cyclohexene ring have a lower viscosity than conventional L.C. compounds, and have effectivenesses of short response time when applied to L.C. display apparatus; superior compatibility with other L.C. compounds to form convenient L.C. mixture; and no need of separating cis- and trans-forms in the midway step of the preparation as in the prior art.